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A bill unveiled by Illinois lawmakers that seeks to create hydraulic fracturing regulations would generate jobs for the state, Gov. Pat Quinn said. The energy industry and some environmental groups assisted state lawmakers in crafting the measure.

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A bill to regulate hydraulic fracturing in Florida was pulled by its state Senate sponsor, who warned fellow lawmakers that the need for the measure will remain. Sen. Garrett Richter, R-Naples, pulled the measure from consideration after the Appropriations Committee voted it down. The measure ordered the state to establish regulations for oil and natural gas drilling, block local government ordinances that would ban fracking, and study its environmental impact.

Opposition to hydraulic fracturing is losing ground to voters, lawmakers and courts in oil and natural gas producing states, observers say. "I think most people have gotten beyond the initial scare tactics of the 'fracktivists' and now realize that fracking is being done safely," said Kathleen Sgamma, vice president of government and public affairs for the Western Energy Alliance. Ciruli Associates founder Floyd Ciruli said the opposition has been losing momentum due to the slump in oil and gas prices, which has transformed the booming industry into "one with at least some level of contraction."

Colorado District Judge Chris Melonakis ruled on Thursday that the result of a November election to ban hydraulic fracturing in Broomfield, Colo., is legal. Fracking advocates questioned the result of the vote because of irregularities. The Broomfield Balanced Energy Coalition, which supports fracking, said it has yet to decide whether it will appeal the judge's decision.

A bill that would impose regulations on hydraulic fracturing in Illinois cleared the state House of Representatives. Gov. Pat Quinn lauded the bill's passage, and urged the state Senate to swiftly approve the measure. "This legislation will unlock the potential for thousands of jobs in Southern Illinois, while ensuring that our state has the nation's strongest environmental protections in place for this industry," Quinn said.

Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan favors a ban on hydraulic fracturing instead of a bill that would regulate the drilling technique. State lawmakers, with the help of the industry and some environmentalists, have crafted legislation that contains some of the toughest fracking policies in the U.S. "Read about what happened in Pennsylvania," Madigan said, without explaining his position.